Refuge
[Edward's POV]
So close no matter how far
Couldn't be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
And nothing else matters.
Never opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don't just say
And nothing else matters.
[Lyrics to song: Nothing Else Matters: Artist: Metallica]
The chill serenity of night time seemed to be a soothing balm for Emmett's concerns while also working to ease the weight of Adia's situation—a weight that seemed to be firmly planted in his mind and on his shoulders. He stood, leaning against the railing of the second floor veranda, his back to the door listening to the sounds of darkness as they played a lullaby of peaceful calm against his frayed nerves.
He rubbed the back of his neck and then rubbed his eyes as his mind began trying to free itself from chains of memory of the incident at the club and the demon of guilt that he just couldn't seem to shake. He was of no real relation to Adia; she had made her presence felt in his life and the life of his family by merely ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time. But for some reason, he was finding it hard not to become attached to her, not to want her to survive her injuries even if it meant taking drastic measure to do so. He couldn't seem to explain his attraction to Aida other than the fact that she had in theory saved him from being the target of some drunken sot's rage, not that an injury of such a nature would have placed him in the life or death situation that it had left Adia.
It was a logic problem that contained within it's solution a myriad of mixed emotions all swirling in the midst of his confusion as to why he had grown so attached to this mortal female that was of no relation to him or his family. The only thing he knew for certain was that he could not allow her to perish even if that meant that Carlisle would need to use drastic measures to save her life. So what if saving Adia's life brought them back into another war with the Volturi, Jasper was right, it would not be the first time nor the last and as far as opponents were concerned the Volturi weren't really even worth the time or the energy that fighting against them required…
It was not my intention to startle Emmett but as I let myself out onto the veranda, his muscles tensed briefly and it was obvious that he had not been expecting any company. I didn't have to be empathic like Jasper to know that Emmett was fighting a demon of guilt and mixed emotions after what had taken place at the club. His attachment to Adia was strong and I could understand the mental anguish of it only because I had walked that same path with Bella only a short time ago. "You know you don't have to fight with this demon alone," I moved to stand next to him at the rail.
Emmett stood still looking up at the sky, "I don't know Edward, I just don't... If I'd been faster or even smarter…" His gaze shifted into the distance, "I mean I don't even know her yet and I'm already feeling the need to protect her. It's almost as though I'm attracted to her." He finally answered after what seemed hours.
"Maybe you are and if so there's nothing wrong with that," I admitted my mind drifting back, briefly, to my own tribulations with Bella before she became no longer human. "Carlisle isn't going to just give up on Adia, even if that means giving her the same chance for a new life as Bella had, you know that."
"I feel like all I've done is caused more trouble, I mean even Esme was…well…colder about this than usual." His gaze shifted then to focus momentarily upon me.
I shook my head, "Esme is just worried about the Volturi. Besides, she hasn't had the chance to meet Adia either, remember, she was able to get to know Bella before the events that forced drastic measure to be taken in order to save her life."
"Why is she so worried about the Volturi, it's not like we've not faced them before. I mean so what if Adia's gifted, not every gifted vampire in this world has to work for Aro the all knowing idiot." It was obvious to me then that there was more to Emmett's depression than just an attraction to this human female that currently clung to the fringes of mortal life; he was also frustrated as to why everyone seemed to be caught up with the possibility of the Volturi making a stink about Adia's existence.
I shrugged, "It's Esme," I muttered more to soothe his frustration than to really explain Esme's view of the situation. "Emmett, you did what you had to do to keep that mess at the club from ending all of us up in jail. You have to, at some point, just trust that you did the right thing and not worry so much about the rest. Adia is in good hands and no matter what her future holds, I'm sure she will be more than welcome here as a part of our family whether she remains mortal or not."
"But what if I'm actually attracted to Adia; what about…I mean Rose will turn into a total witch if…" I noticed the shiver of his muscles at just the thought of Rose's temper in that case. Rose was definitely of the overly jealous sort that was for sure and he was right about her opinion of that sort of situation, not that she could do much to stop it. If Emmett found that sort of attraction to Adia then it wouldn't have been by his own choice, it would have been either fate or destiny or a combination of both.
"Rose will get mad about it and then she'll just have to either learn to deal with it or get over it," I answered calmly. "If you're attracted to Adia in that fashion, well, you wouldn't be the first of our kind to have two. It was a tradition in many of the old clans that male Vampires of status were involved with more than one female."
"All that will do is shine ridicule down on our heads; I mean we have to be able to blend in and…" His voice trailed and his gaze drifted once more into the dark, tree covered distance. "It won't be fair to Carlisle."
I gave him a pat on the shoulder, "We'll work it out. Don't worry about the Volturi; we've proven that we can handle them." I insisted knowing that my calm support didn't even come close to answering the questions and concerns that were currently plaguing him but hopefully my solutions at least gave him some consolation.
"I guess I never realized how tough it was for you with Bella until now…I mean…" He fumbled to find words to even express his own feelings much less thank me for the advice.
I shook my head, "You don't have to thank me for the advice," I insisted with a knowing smile. "Yes it was a struggle but it's not so difficult that it can't be overcome if you're willing to put out the effort. I think I can safely speak for the rest of the family when I say that we will stand behind you and Adia too no matter what happens. It's not a struggle that you'll have to face alone."